2003
Member since
Working towards these commitments
Secure Tenure Rights
Diverse Tenure Systems
Equal land rights for women
Secure territorial rights for Indigenous Peoples
Locally-managed ecosystems
Transparent and accessible information
Mission
To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
UNEP is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The vision of UNEP for the medium-term future is to be: "The leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, that promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and that serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment".
Objectives
UNEP’s responsibilities include: Promoting international cooperation in the field of the environment and recommending appropriate policies. Catalysing action to address major environmental threats. Monitoring the status of the global environment and gathering and disseminating environmental information. Facilitating the coordination of United Nations activities on matters concerned with the environment, and ensuring, through cooperation, liaison and participation, that their activities take environmental considerations into account. Helping, upon request, environment ministries and other environmental authorities, in particular in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to formulate and implement environmental policies. Helping to develop international environmental law. Providing expert advice on the development and use of environmental concepts and instruments. Developing regional programmes for the environment. The major results of UNEP activities should include: International arrangements to enhance environmental protection and policy advice to governments, multilateral organisations and others to strengthen environmental protection and incorporate the environment into the sustainable development process. Periodic assessments and scientifically sound forecasts to support decision making and international consensus on the main environmental threats and responses to them.More effective coordination of environmental matters within the United Nations system. Greater public awareness and capacity for environmental management and effective national and international responses to environmental threats.
Constituencies
Governments, scientists, journalists, business persons, civil society, children and youth.